After reading this story, I was reminded of a gospel folk song – Mother’s Last Word to Her Son. Perhaps some spiritual mother had whispered these lyrics into James's ear. And as his soul departed from his body, he recalled the words as follows:

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"I never can forget the day

When my dear Mother did sweetly say

You are leavin', my darling boy

You always have been your mother's joy

Now as you leave in this world to roam

You may not be able to get back home

But remember Jesus, who lives on high

And is watchin' over you with a mighty eye

The world is so full of old sin and woe

And many sorrows everywhere you go

But remember Jesus, who's everywhere

You get in trouble now, he'll meet you there

..."

“Mother's Last Word To Her Son” – Washington Phillips

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Perhaps, in over 2000 years of world history, as my brother once said — "beneath the glory of Rome lies the extreme suffering and blood of millions of Black people."

And our Mother would say: Son, accept the way.

So many massacres have occurred, so many innocent people have died in poverty and humiliation.

And our Mother has said: Son, accept the way.

And God will tell us: That is the way.

And when we, the witnesses, look back at such a reel of film, God says: That is the way.

The song is the mother's word to her son. That word is also the word God sends to us, those who hear a mother's final word to her children dying in tragedies, that: That is the way.

And my friend, accept the way.

Accept the only way.

Accept that only way.

Accept this only way.

And change it.